The 2011 remake of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was a pivotal project for the then-independent studio Saber Interactive, who offered to develop it for free. Here's the story of how this strategic move paid off and how a small indie team got to work on a renowned franchise.
Saber Interactive Offered To Do Halo For Free
A Huge Opportunity For An Independent Studio
In a candid interview with journalist Stephen Totilo for Game File, Saber Interactive's CEO and co-founder, Matthew Karch, disclosed the studio's bold pitch to Microsoft. Karch offered to remaster the iconic first Halo game for free, emphasizing the value of the opportunity by saying, "Because it’s Halo."
The Xbox executive was taken aback by the proposal, but Karch saw it as a strategic move. At the time, Saber was a fledgling indie studio, and working on such a high-profile franchise could significantly boost their visibility in the industry. Karch explained, "It’s the biggest franchise in the world at the time. I said: ‘It’s like putting a Harvard diploma on your wall. Everyone in the world is going to want to work with me after they see that I’ve worked on this last Halo game, and it is going to open up doors. So I’ll suck it up and I’ll do it at a loss.'"
Saber secured the project and successfully released Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary on the Xbox 360 in 2011. Although Karch initially proposed a low bid of $4 million at Microsoft's request, the studio ended up receiving no royalties due to certain contractual clauses imposed by Microsoft.
From Relying On Publishers To Becoming One Themselves
Despite the financial loss on the 2011 remake, Saber's fortunes turned when Microsoft contracted them to contribute to Halo: The Master Chief Collection, working alongside other developers like Bungie and 343 Industries. As the remaster's original developer, Saber was also tasked with porting Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary to the Xbox One. However, Microsoft neglected to send the contract for the port until just before the collection's release.
Karch stood firm, refusing to sign the contract unless the royalty-killing clauses from the previous deal were removed. Microsoft agreed, and Saber was generously compensated for their work on The Master Chief Collection, receiving tens of millions of dollars. This substantial payment was crucial for Saber's future endeavors. Karch reflected on the moment, saying, "We’ve watched other people make money on our work. Now we’re going to make money on our own," to his partner and COO, Andrey Iones.
Saber Interactive Now
Following their success with Microsoft, Saber Interactive expanded globally, establishing new studios in Spain, Sweden, and Belarus, and acquiring companies like Binary Motion and New World Interactive. They also took on diverse projects, including the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with CD Projekt Red and developing World War Z under their own banner.
In February 2020, Saber Interactive was acquired by the Embracer Group, becoming a direct subsidiary while retaining autonomy. Under Embracer, Saber continued to grow, acquiring more subsidiaries and developing games like Evil Dead: The Game. However, financial challenges led Embracer to sell Saber Interactive to Beacon Interactive, a company owned by Saber's CEO, Matthew Karch, in a deal that allowed Saber to retain its branded studios and IPs.
Despite the separation from Embracer, Saber's CCO Tim Willits reassured fans via X (formerly Twitter) that the studio's projects would continue as planned. Currently, Saber Interactive is actively working on several titles, including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (released in September 2024), John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park: Survival.
